TORONTO -- The pairing of Aussie funk-rock outfit INXS and Scottish synth-pop band Simple Minds at the Molson Amphitheatre for a night of '80s dance music couldn't have been any better.

Both bands formed in the late '70s in their respective cities of Sydney and Glasgow, were lucky to have dynamite frontmen with Michael Hutchence and Jim Kerr. And both catered to those who liked to shake a leg.

And even if a major component was missing last night, with the absence of the sexy and soulful Hutchence, who hung himself in 1997, his spirit definitely remained in the joyous party music of his band.

INXS' fun dance tunes last night like New Sensation, Original Sin, Mystify, Disappear, Need You Tonight, Bitter Tears and Kick, went a long way in transcending the loss of Hutchence.

And taking a very brave step as the band's new singer was Australian Jon Stevens, whose strong voice -- and long, blond-streaked hair -- eerily mirrored Hutchence's even if his stage presence was no match.

Stevens was good-looking, animated and friendly, but no sooner had he finally gotten the crowd of 5,000 on his side that video of "Hutch" was played on screens on either side of the stage during Never Tear Us Apart.

It was a sad reminder of just how much power Hutchence possessed.

"We miss him a lot," said keyboardist Andrew Farriss right before the song. "An awful lot."

Still, it should be pointed out that practically every one I talked to after the band's set seemed genuinely wowed by Stevens.

They'll be pleased to know there is movement afoot to continue INXS without Hutchence given the group trotted out a new song, Hungry, last night and guitarist Tim Farriss vowed "we will be back."

Frankly, though, I could have done without hearing Suicide Blonde.

As for Simple Minds, Kerr was in top interpretive dance form -- two fingers raised when they weren't drawing circles over his head -- and splendid voice alongside original guitarist Charlie Burchill and three newer musicians including a Torontonian on keyboards.

Given their previous performance in Toronto was at the Warehouse seven years ago -- "I can tell you that's too long," said Kerr -- the audience was clearly psyched to have the group in their presence again. Kerr, in turn, performed the splits, sank to his knees, and -- at one point -- appeared to go under an imaginary limbo pole.

Song highlights were of the older variety -- Love Song, Hypnotized, She's A River, Someone Somewhere In Summertime, Waterfront, Alive And Kicking -- and the anthemic, set-ending Don't You Forget About Me. Still, new tunes like One Step Closer and Spaceface from Simple Minds' latest album, Cry, ranked right up there too. Along with Kerr's sweet, Scottish face.

JAM! Rating: 4 out of 5